Fiber drop cable assembly and method for outdoor and indoor routing

ABSTRACT

Drop cable assemblies that can be routed from an outdoor terminal directly to an indoor wall outlet without disruption, and adhered to the interior of a dwelling after removal of the drop cable jacket and utilization of a pre-applied adhesive layer are described. Additionally, telecommunications systems utilizing such assemblies, methods of routing such assemblies and methods of making such assemblies are described.

FIELD

The present description relates to a drop cable assembly that can berouted from an outdoor terminal directly to an indoor wall outletwithout disruption, telecommunications systems utilizing suchassemblies, methods of routing such assemblies and methods of makingsuch assemblies.

BACKGROUND

The deployment of fiber to the home (FTTH) service is occurring at anincreasingly rapid pace around the world, as service providers rush tooffer greater bandwidth to customers. Installed cost is a significantconcern for such service providers. Link loss is the insertion loss ofthe fiber span between an optical line terminal at a central office andthe optical network unit at the subscriber dwelling. Additionalconnectors or splices are needed at the transition between cable types,and may be necessary when passing from outdoors (i.e. outside of adwelling) to indoors (i.e. inside of a dwelling). Alternatively, a dropcable can be routed indoors within a conduit for a segment of thelength, transitioned to a smaller cable with a splice or connectionpoint, and then routed on the surface of the wall for the remainingsegment. Each of these types of terminations adds to link loss, andfurther adds to the link budget, degrading performance and adding toelectronics cost necessary for installation.

It is often necessary to drill large holes to pass a connector end of apre-terminated drop cable through a dwelling wall. Additionally,appearance of the installed product inside of the dwelling is a keyconcern for homeowners and landlords. Poorly routed and stapled cablesdetract from a property's value. The size of the cable which is exposedto the tenant if surface mounted can detract from the decor of the room.Further, installing fiber to the home is a disruption to the homeowner'sspace. It is critical for an installer to be able to quickly complete aninstallation with minimal noise, drilling, dust or other intrusions.

The presently described invention addresses all of the concernsdiscussed above, limiting link loss and budget, avoiding the necessityof large holes to route a drop cable into a dwelling, providing anaesthetically pleasing solution, and minimizing disruption to ahomeowner during installation.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present description relates to a fiber drop cableassembly. The fiber drop cable assembly includes an optical fiber, anadhesive layer that surrounds the optical fiber, and a removable jacketpositioned around the adhesive layer and optical fiber. The adhesivethat makes up the adhesive layer is suitable for adhering the opticalfiber to a wall or other permanent or semi-permanent structure. In oneembodiment, the assembly may further include a buffer coating positionedbetween the optical fiber and the adhesive layer.

In another aspect, the present description relates to atelecommunications system. The telecommunications system includes aterminal that is positioned exterior to a dwelling, a fiber drop cablethat is routed from the terminal, and an unjacketed portion of the fiberdrop cable. The fiber drop cable routed from the terminal is jacketedand weatherproofed and is routed to an entrance point of a dwellingthrough which the cable passes into the interior of the dwelling. Theunjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable is routed along an interiorsurface of the dwelling to a wall outlet. The unjacketed portionincludes an adhesive layer that is pre-applied to the fiber drop cableand exposed upon removing the cable jacket. The adhesive layer allowsthe unjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable to be secured to theinterior wall.

In yet another aspect, the present description relates to a method ofrouting a fiber drop cable directly from a terminal that is external toa dwelling to a wall outlet that is internal to the dwelling. The methodincludes the steps of: a jacketed optical fiber drop cable to theterminal, routing the jacketed optical fiber drop cable along a portionof an exterior of the dwelling, routing the jacketed optical fiber dropcable through an entrance point into the dwelling, removing the jacketfrom the jacketed optical fiber drop cable, exposing an optical fiberand an adhesive layer, adhering the optical fiber layer to the interiorwall of the dwelling utilizing the adhesive layer, and connecting theoptical fiber to the wall outlet.

In another aspect, the present description relates to a method of makinga fiber optic cable assembly. The method includes the steps of:providing a jacketed cable with a hollowed interior, opening are-sealable groove in the jacket to expose the hollow interior,inserting into the hollowed interior of the jacket an optical fiber, theoptical fiber being surrounded by an adhesive layer that suitable foradhering the optical fiber to a wall or other permanent orsemi-permanent structure, and re-sealing the groove in the jacket toenclose the buffer coated optical fiber. In one aspect, the opticalfiber inserted into the hollowed interior jacket may be a buffer coatedoptical fiber.

In yet another aspect, the present description relates to atelecommunications system. The telecommunications system includes aterminal that is positioned exterior to a dwelling, a fiber drop cablethat is routed from the terminal, and an unjacketed portion of the fiberdrop cable. The fiber drop cable routed from the terminal is jacketedand weatherproofed and is routed to an entrance point of a dwellingthrough which the cable passes into the interior of the dwelling. Theunjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable is routed along an interiorsurface of the dwelling to a wall outlet. The unjacketed portion isinserted into a track that is adhered to the interior wall of thedwelling and routed to the wall outlet. Additionally, the track includesfeatures positioned along the length of the track that act to define achannel for securing and protecting the unjacketed portion of the fiberdrop cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C provide different views of a fiber drop cable assemblyaccording to the present description.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view a fiber drop cable assembly accordingto the present description.

FIG. 3 provides an exterior diagram of a telecommunications systemaccording to the present description using fiber drop cable assemblies.

FIG. 4 provides an interior diagram of a telecommunications systemaccording to the present description using fiber drop cable assemblies.

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of a fiber drop cable assemblyaccording to the present description.

FIGS. 6A-6B provide cross-sectional views of a fiber drop cable assemblyaccording to the present description.

FIG. 7 provides a cross-sectional view of a fiber drop cable assemblyaccording to the present description.

FIG. 8 illustrates an applicator tool for applying a fiber drop cableassembly to a surface.

FIG. 9 provides an exterior diagram of a telecommunications systemaccording to the present description using fiber drop cable assemblies.

FIG. 10 provides an exterior diagram of a telecommunications systemaccording to the present description using fiber drop cable assemblies.

FIGS. 11A and 11B provide perspective views of a track for routingunjacketed drop cable with and without cable in the track.

FIG. 12 provides a perspective view of a track for routing unjacketeddrop cable with a cover to secure and protect the cable in the track.

FIGS. 13A-B are cross-sectional views of tracks for routing unjacketeddrop cable that contain covers to secure and protect the cable.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a jacketed fiber drop cablepre-populated with a track for routing indoors upon peeling of thejacket.

The figures are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in thefigures refer to like components. However, it will be understood thatthe use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is notintended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the samenumber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which illustratespecific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Theillustrated embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive of allembodiments according to the invention. It is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thefollowing detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by theappended claims.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes,amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claimsare to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term“about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numericalparameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claimsare approximations that can vary depending upon the desired propertiessought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing theteachings disclosed herein.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” encompass embodiments having pluralreferents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used inthis specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generallyemployed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearlydictates otherwise.

Spatially related terms, including but not limited to, “proximate,”“distal,” “lower,” “upper,” “beneath,” “below,” “above,” and “on top,”if used herein, are utilized for ease of description to describe spatialrelationships of an element(s) to another. Such spatially related termsencompass different orientations of the device in use or operation inaddition to the particular orientations depicted in the figures anddescribed herein. For example, if an object depicted in the figures isturned over or flipped over, portions previously described as below orbeneath other elements would then be above those other elements.

As used herein, when an element, component or layer for example isdescribed as forming a “coincident interface” with, or being “on,”“connected to,” “coupled with,” “stacked on” or “in contact with”another element, component or layer, it can be directly on, directlyconnected to, directly coupled with, directly stacked on, in directcontact with, or intervening elements, components or layers may be on,connected, coupled or in contact with the particular element, componentor layer, for example. When an element, component or layer for exampleis referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,”“directly coupled with,” or “directly in contact with” another element,there are no intervening elements, components or layers for example.

The terms “buffered” optical fiber and “buffer coated” optical fiber maybe used interchangeably throughout the description.

FIGS. 1A-1C provide different views of a fiber drop cable assembly 100according to the present description. Fiber drop cable assembly includesan optical fiber 110. Optical fiber 110 may be a conventional opticalfiber having a conventional diameter of approximately 250 microns. Theoptical fiber is generally a standard optical fiber with a glassoptically transmissive portion having a diameter of approximately 125microns, and an acrylate coating surrounding the glass, the acrylatecoating having a thickness of approximately 62.5 microns, such that thediameter of the entire “optical fiber” is 250 microns. Assembly 100 mayfurther include a buffer coating 120 that surrounds the optical fiber110. The diameter of the buffer coated optical fiber (labeled as element125), which takes into account both the optical fiber and the bufferlayer, may in some embodiments be between 250 (nominal) and 700 microns,or between 450 and 550 microns, or potentially between 490 and 510microns, or between 550 microns and 650 microns, or potentially between590 and 610 microns. In another embodiment, the diameter of the buffercoated optical fiber may be between 800 and 1000 microns, or between 850microns and 950 microns, or potentially between 890 and 910 microns.However, although not shown in the figures, in some embodiments, therewill be no buffer coating around the optical fiber.

Fiber drop cable assembly 100 further includes an adhesive layer 130that may surround the buffer coating. The adhesive making up adhesivelayer 130 is suitable for adhering the buffer coated optical fiber 125to a wall or other permanent or semi-permanent structure. Inembodiments, where the optical fiber does not include a buffer coatingaround it, the adhesive layer 130 will directly surround the opticalfiber 110. In one embodiment, the adhesive of adhesive layer 130 can bea pressure sensitive adhesive. In another embodiment, the adhesive layer130 may contain a heat activated adhesive. The adhesive layer 130 maycontain adhesives that are cured by moisture, radiation, or are simplyair cured. Where a pressure sensitive adhesive is used, the pressuresensitive adhesive may be of a rubber, acrylic or silicone classadhesive. Appropriate rubber class pressure sensitive adhesives caninclude, e.g., natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, astyrene/butadiene random copolymer, polybutadiene, or SIS and SBS blockcopolymers. Appropriate silicone class pressure sensitive adhesives caninclude, e.g., traditional solvent silicone systems or silicone polyurea(SPU). Appropriate resin class pressure sensitive adhesives can includecopolymers of acrylic monomers combining 1) a low Tg component, 2) apolar monomer, and optionally 3) a high TG component. One specificappropriate resin class pressure sensitive adhesive is 3MTM Low SurfaceEnergy Acrylic Adhesive 300LSE from 3M Company (St. Paul, Minn.).Appropriate methods for coating the adhesive onto the buffered opticalfiber may include solvent based coating methods, water based coatingmethods, polymerized web-coating, or hot melt extrusion.

The assembly 100 also includes a removable jacket 140 that is positionedaround the adhesive layer 130 and buffer coated optical fiber 125 (wherea buffer coating is present). FIG. 1C clearly illustrates jacket 140 inthe process of being removed from the buffer coated optical fiber 125(or fiber 110) and adhesive 130. The jacket may be capable of beingremoved by using a tool, or in another embodiment, may be peeled byhand. In some embodiments, the removable jacket 140 may be formed from apolymer material, such as polyethylene. Other materials may also besuitable materials for the primary jacket, such as polypropylene,polyvinyl chloride (PVC), TPE, neoprene, polyurethane or fluoropolymerssuch as FEP and PFA. Jacket may, in one preferred embodiment, be bothdurable and weatherable. As such, one particularly appropriate materialfor jacket 140 may be UV stabilized polyethylene material. In someembodiments, the jacket 140 may also be abrasion resistant. The jacketedfiber is intended to be ruggedized for potential exposure to theelements, and is often times conspicuously colored black. Theseproperties create negative visual impact if the jacketed cable is routedwith the jacket on into a dwelling. Thus, the desirability of removingthe jacket upon entry into the dwelling. In one embodiment, the jacketmay be coated with a low friction fluorochemical coating, such asdescribed in commonly owned and assigned International Publication No.WO 2015/081511, so that it can easily be pulled through the entry pointinto the dwelling.

To aid in removing the jacket 140, the jacket may include at least oneindentation 160 (or potentially multiple indentations) as illustrated inFIG. 1B. The indentation(s) 160 are positioned proximate the buffercoated optical fiber 125 and run along the cable assembly's axis,allowing for the jacket to be removed more easily and consistentlyexpose the fiber along its length upon removal (as illustrated in FIG.1C). Alternatively, the fiber drop cable assembly may include a pullstring that is positioned within the jacket and runs parallel to theoptical fiber. The pull string may be used to open the jacket whenpulled by a user. Such a construction is illustrated in the embodimentdescribed further below and illustrated in FIG. 7.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, assembly 100 may also includetwo strength members 150 that are positioned within the removable jacket140 on opposite sides of optical fiber 110. In some embodiments, thestrength member 150 may be polymer rods. The polymer rods may be solelypolymer, or may be glass reinforced polymer rods, carbon fiberreinforced polymer rods, or polyaramide (e.g., products sold under thetrade designation KEVLAR) reinforced polymer rods.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, a fiber drop cableassembly 200 may resemble that of drop cable assembly 100, with oneaddition. Drop cable assembly 200 may additionally include a liner layer160 that is positioned over the adhesive layer 130 and within the jacket140. The liner 160 is capable of remaining intact after the jacket 140has been removed. Liner 160 may subsequently (after removal of thejacket) be separated from the adhesive layer to prepare the adhesivelayer for adherence to a surface, as further discussed below.

In one appropriate use, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the fiber drop cableassembly of the present description, entirely jacketed, is routedexterior to a dwelling 302. The drop cable assembly may be attached tothe exterior wall of the dwelling using a number of conventional means,including stapling, cable clamps, or routing within conduits. Upon entryinto the building through an entrance point 306, a peeled portion of thecable assembly 304 is adhered to a surface (e.g.) a wall of the interiorof the dwelling 302. The peeled portion 304 may correspond to adhesivecoated buffered fiber (elements 140 and 125), or simply adhesive coatedoptical fiber. As noted, the adhesive coated buffer coated fiber (oradhesive coated fiber) may be adhered to a wall, or other permanent orsemi-permanent structure or surface. However, it may also be desirableto ensure that the portion of the adhesive coated fiber not in contactwith the wall does not remain tacky after installation. As such aninstaller may use any number of means to render tack-free thenon-adhered portions of the adhesive layer, such as i) placing a thinparticulate layer on and covering the adhesive layer, ii) placing a thinfilm on and covering the adhesive layer, iii) applying a coating to andcovering the adhesive layer, iv) including a volatile tackifying agentin the adhesive layer that evaporates and renders the adhesivetack-free, or, v) utilizing a curing reaction based on light, heat,moisture or air that causes the adhesive to slowly lose tack. FIG. 3shows an aerial deployment from pole to the house. This could also be aburied application where the fiber is fed underground when routingtowards the dwelling. FIG. 9 illustrates one such example, where a dropcable is routed underground from terminal 312 (in this embodiment,potentially a network interface device) to another distribution terminal330. Alternatively, though not shown, the cable may be routed directlyfrom the building entrance point 306 underground and routed directly toterminal 330.

FIG. 10 offers another example of routing of the jacketed weather fiberdrop cable assembly outside of the dwelling. In this particularembodiment, rather than being routed to the building entrance point 306from a network interface-type device mounted on the exterior of thedwelling, the jacketed fiber drop cable assembly is routed directly to aterminal 334 that is positioned on a light pole. In such an embodiment,the system may include a strain relief device 332 positioned on theexterior of the dwelling.

FIG. 4 provides an interior view of the system also illustrated in FIG.3. These figures may be used together to understand discussion of thetelecommunications system below. One telecommunications system accordingto the present description includes a terminal 312 that is positionedexternal to a dwelling 302. Terminal 312 may, e.g., be what isunderstood as a network interface device. A fiber drop cable 300, suchas the fiber drop cable assemblies 100 and 200 discussed above, isrouted from the terminal 312. The drop cable 300 is jacketed andweatherproofed and is routed to an entrance point 306 of the dwellingthrough which the fiber passes into the interior of the dwelling 314. Atthis point, an unjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable 304 is routedalong an interior surface 318 of the dwelling to a wall outlet 322. Asused herein, the term “wall outlet” may be understood to includeconventional wall outlets, wall mounted customer premises equipmentdevices (CPE devices) and other O/E devices. The unjacketed portion ofthe drop cable includes an adhesive layer (see, e.g., adhesive layer 140in FIG. 1) that is applied to the fiber drop cable and exposed uponremoving the cable jacket (see FIG. 1C), the adhesive layer allowing theunjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable to be secured to the interiorwall 318. Of particular importance in the system described in FIGS. 3and 4, is that the fiber drop cable, including both the portionsexternal to the dwelling 302 and the unjacketed portions in the interiorof dwelling 314, is continuous between the wall outlet 322 and terminal312 without any need for termination or connection of the optical fiberat any point in between these two points (including at entrance 306).

In a different aspect, the dwelling may be part of a multi-dwellingunit, such that exterior of dwelling 302 is in fact a hallway of amulti-dwelling unit (not shown). In such an embodiment, it is possiblethat the system will include a jacketed fiber drop cable that is routedwithin a raceway or a conduit from a terminal or building entrance pointto a living unit. Upon entering the living unit the rugged jacket isremoved to expose a buffered fiber which is surrounded by an adhesivelayer with is utilized to adhere the fiber to the interior wall of theliving unit and connecting the optical fiber to the wall outlet.Alternatively, in either aspect, the jacket of the cable may not beremoved upon entry into the dwelling, but may be removed only afterbeing routed a given distance within the dwelling. Such an article (ormethod of routing in accordance with the methods described below) may beappropriate where an entry point is in a place that is not generallyvisible to inhabitants at most times, e.g., in a closet. In such asystem or method, the jacket may be removed when the cable enters a morehighly visible region of the dwelling.

FIGS. 3 and 4 can also be used to provide an illustration of a method ofrouting a fiber drop cable directly from a terminal that is external toa dwelling to a wall outlet that is internal to the dwelling. The methodincludes the step of connecting a jacketed optical fiber drop cable 300to a terminal 312 and routing the jacketed optical fiber drop cablealong a portion of an exterior of the dwelling 302. The method furtherincludes the step of routing the jacketed optical fiber drop cable 300through an entrance point 306 in the dwelling. Entrance point 306 can beof a diameter that is only slightly larger than the jacketed opticalfiber drop cable. It is important to note that the current constructionoffers a major improvement over conventional systems that place a box atthe entrance to the dwelling, and connect a separate indoor cable andoutdoor cable within the box.

Next, the jacket of the cable portion that is inside of the dwelling isremoved from the cable (in a similar manner to that shown in FIG. 1C),exposing an optical fiber that may be surrounded with a buffer layer,and an adhesive layer that surrounds the buffer layer (or surrounds theoptical fiber where no buffer layer is present). In one embodiment, thejacket may be capable of being removed by hand. The optical fiber layer(unjacketed and potentially buffer coated) 304 is adhered to an interiorsurface 318 of the dwelling utilizing the adhesive layer. After routingalong the interior wall, the optical fiber is connected to the walloutlet 322. In one embodiment, the steps described immediately above areperformed sequentially. Alternatively, the distance along which theoptical fiber must be routed may be measured and then removed to providefor the appropriate amount of unjacketed fiber first, and the drop cableis connected to the wall outlet before being routed outside to theterminal external to the dwelling.

Although the adhesive layer is critical to adhere the optical fiber, itwill be clear to one of skill in the art that it is undesirable for thesurface area of the buffered or unbuffered optical fiber that is notadhered to the wall to retain its tackiness. Exposed tacky portions ofthe fiber can result in accumulation of dust, and may cause issues withany slack portions of the fiber that are wound, e.g., at the walloutlet. Accordingly, one further step of the method herein described isto cause the non-adhered adhesive to become tack-free. As describedabove, this “detackification” of the buffered optical fiber may beachieved through a number of means, including, i) a thin particulatelayer being placed on and covering the adhesive layer, ii) a thin filmbeing placed on and covering the adhesive layer, iii) a coating beingapplied to and covering the adhesive layer, iv) a volatile tackifyingagent dissolved in the adhesive that evaporates and renders the adhesivetack-free, or v) a curing reaction based on light, heat, moisture or airthat causes the adhesive to lose tack.

The unjacketed optical fiber with adhesive layer may be adhered to thewall or other surface by appropriate means. In one embodiment, theadhesive layer may be adhered to the interior surface 318 of thedwelling using an applicator tool. The applicator tool may applypressure to the optical fiber when being used, resulting in adeformation of the adhesive layer, and a greater surface area ofadhesive on the interior surface. One example of such an applicator toolin the process of applying an unjacketed buffer optical fiber to theinterior surface of a dwelling is illustrated in FIG. 8 with applicatortool 803 applying optical fiber 800 to a surface. The applicator toolmay also be used to implement some of the detackification techniquesdescribed above, such that exposed surface portions of the optical fiberare no longer tacky after contact with the applicator tool.

FIG. 5 provides yet another version of a fiber drop cable assemblyaccording to the present description. In the illustrated embodiment,again the fiber drop cable assembly includes an optical fiber 510, withbuffer coating 520 surrounding the optical fiber and an adhesive layer530 that surround the buffer coating, the adhesive suitable for adheringthe buffer coated optical fiber to a wall or other permanent orsemi-permanent structure. Additionally, the assembly of FIG. 5 includesa removable jacket 540 positioned around the adhesive layer and buffercoated optical fiber. FIG. 5 illustrates jacket 540 in the process ofbeing removed from around these elements.

FIG. 5, and also FIGS. 6A and 6B which show the same construction from across-sectional view in both an open and closed jacket positions(respectively), illustrate this additional embodiment. The assemblyoffers other characteristics that may differ from assemblies describedabove.

The present description also relates to a method of making a fiber dropcable assembly. The most common method of assembling a cableconstruction, including FRP-type cable, is to extrude the jacket portionof the cable around the optical fiber, and strength members (if any) ina continuous process. As an alternative, one may begin the process witha jacketed cable that does not yet contain optical fiber. The jacketedcable may contain strength members (e.g. strength member 550 in FIGS. 5and 6A-6B). However, the central portion of the cable may be hollow. Thehollowed jacket 540 may be capable of being opened (as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6A), and an optical fiber 510, potentially surrounded by abuffer layer 520, and adhesive layer 530 surrounding the optical fiber(and buffer layer where present) may be laid into the hollowed outcenter. After the adhesive coated optical fiber has been laid in thejacket 540, the jacket may be closed and re-sealed at groove area 570.The jacket may be sealed by appropriate method. In one embodiment, thegroove area 570 may be heated such that the jacket seals by melting atgroove area 570. In another embodiment, the adhesive layer 530 may actto sufficiently adhere the jacket 540 around the construction such thatit remains closed at groove area 570. However, the adhesive layer willgenerally have a stronger adhesion to the optical fiber and will releasefreely from the jacket when the user applies an opening or peeling forceto the jacket. The re-sealed cable construction will resemble that shownin FIG. 6B. When and if a portion of the cable is intended for routingalong an interior surface of a dwelling, it may once again be opened byremoving the appropriate amount of jacket, and adhering the buffercoated optical fiber to the surface.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another cross-sectional view of a potential fiberdrop cable assembly 700 according to the present description. Here, asopposed to the other constructions shown, and as contemplated in thepresent description, the construction is a rounded cable with agenerally round jacket 740. In previous embodiments, a generallyrectangular jacket (also contemplated) is described, and any othernumber of jacket cross-sectional shapes may be appropriate. As with theother assemblies the construction may include an optical fiber 710, abuffer coating surrounding the optical fiber 720, an adhesive layer 730surrounding the buffer coating, the adhesive suitable for adhering thebuffer coated optical fiber to a wall or other permanent orsemi-permanent structure; and a removable jacket 740 positioned aroundthe adhesive layer and buffer coated optical fiber. The construction mayadditionally include strength member 750 similar to those described inearlier embodiments. As with the construction shown in FIG. 6, assembly700 may include a groove area 770 that may or may not be resealable.Additionally, in this construction, the assembly 700 further includes apull string 780. The pull string 780 is positioned within the jacket 740and runs generally parallel to the optical fiber. A portion of the pullstring may be exposed either manually or left exposed duringmanufacture, such that the jacket may be opened and removed by aninstaller by simply pulling the pull string.

In yet another alternative embodiment, a fiber drop cable assembly mayinclude multiple optical fibers, e.g., 4 optical fibers, 8 opticalfibers, 12 optical fibers, or any other appropriate number of fibers.The optical fibers may be closely bundled and the bundle of opticalfibers may be surrounded by a singular buffer coating or tubing. As withthe other single fiber constructions, an adhesive layer may be appliedthat surrounds the buffer coating/tubing, the adhesive suitable foradhering the buffer coated optical fiber to a wall or other permanent orsemi-permanent structure. Additionally, a removable jacket may bepositioned around the adhesive layer and buffer coated optical fiber.Such a construction may be suitable for bringing multiple fibers to alocation, e.g., to run to a consolidation, terminal or outlet and dropservice to multiple tenants or business customers.

In yet another embodiment, the present description relates to atelecommunications system in which no adhesive layer is pre-applied tothe portion of the assembly within the jacket. As with the system inFIGS. 3 and 4, the telecommunications system includes a terminal 312that is exterior to a dwelling, and continuous fiber drop cable routedfrom the terminal 312, the fiber drop cable 300 being jacketed andweatherproofed and being routed to an entrance point 306 of a dwellingthrough which the fiber drop cable passes into the interior of thedwelling. Again, in the system, an unjacketed portion of the fiber dropcable is routed along an interior surface of the dwelling to a walloutlet. However, in the current embodiment, the unjacketed portion ofthe fiber drop cable (e.g., the buffer coated optical fiber) is insertedinto a track that is adhered to the interior wall of the dwelling androuted to the wall outlet 322. The track includes features positionedalong the length of the track that act to define a channel for securingand protecting the unjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable. The trackmay be routed all the way from the entrance point to the dwelling to thewall outlet. Alternatively, the track may be routed only part of thedistance to the wall outlet, e.g., where the entrance point to thedwelling is at a point that is generally not visible to inhabitants.

FIGS. 11A and 11B offer perspective views of the track 1105 and features1107 that are positioned along its length. As shown, in someembodiments, the features 1107 are positioned on opposing sides of thechannel 1109. In some embodiments, the features may be intermittentlyspaced along the length of the track. In one embodiment, the featurescan be post-like features that may include a widened cap at the top ofthe features (much like mushrooms), such as those illustrated in FIGS.11A and 11B, where the cap aids in securing and protecting theunjacketed fiber drop cable in the channel. The unjacketed drop cable1101 (e.g. buffer coated optical fiber) may be inserted into the channel1109 using an insertion tool that applies pressure onto the unjacketedportion of the drop cable in the direction of the channel in order toslide it past the any cap or top of the features and secure it in thechannel. Such a tool may be similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8.

The surface of the track that is intended for adhesion to the wall,i.e., surface 1111, may be pre-laminated with some sort of adhesivelayer 1113, e.g., a pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The adhesive maybe a double sided adhesive for sticking to both the track and to theinterior wall of a dwelling. The side of the adhesive intended foradhesion to the interior wall may initially be covered with a liner 1115(shown, but optional), that may be stripped away by the installer at thetime of application of the track to the wall. In one embodiment, theadhesive layer 1113 may be a stretch-release adhesive. Any appropriatetype of adhesive for use in adhesive layer 1113 is contemplated.

In some embodiments, the track and features will be made up of aflexible material that is either clear or translucent. The flexibilityof the track and features enable the track to bend en route to the walloutlet, where, e.g., the track must turn a corner. Additionally,flexibility of the features allows for the unjacketed portion of thedrop cable to be snapped into the channel. The clear or translucentnature of the track allows it to be aesthetically pleasing and difficultto notice for tenants or workers in the dwelling. Alternatively, thetrack and features may be made up of a flexible material that iscolor-matched to the color of the wall onto which it is being adhered.Similarly, in order to make the unjacketed portion of the drop cableless conspicuous, the buffer coating around the optical fiber routed inthe track may be either clear or translucent or may be color-matched tothe color of the wall onto which the track is adhered. Color-matchingthe track or buffered optical fiber may offer similar concealing,aesthetically pleasing properties to the system.

In some embodiments, the system may further include a cover portion thatis positioned over the channel. Such an embodiment may be betterunderstood by reference to FIG. 12. In this embodiment, a cover portion1212 is positioned over the channel 1105, and potentially secured ontofeatures 1107. The cover portion 1212 provide additional protection forthe unjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable 1101. Alternatively, asshown in the cross-sectional views in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the coverportion 1212 may be shaped such that it mates with the shape of thefeatures in the track. For example, the cover portion 1212 may containits own features 1214 that are negatives of and/or mate with the trackfeatures 1107. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, the coverportion 1212 may simply be a material that is coated over the entiretyof the track construction, such as a caulking material. While in someembodiments, the unjacketed optical fiber drop cable may be removed fromthe jacket of the drop cable at the entrance point, and snapped into atrack that is provided separately, it is also contemplated that thetrack may also be pre-populated within the jacket of the drop cable.Such a construction is illustrated in FIG. 14. Here jacket 1140surrounds a construction in which the unjacketed portion of cable 1101is already populated in, or snapped into, track 1105, such that theentire construction can be adhered to an interior wall of a dwellingonce jacket 1140 is peeled away. As with other proposed constructions,the cable construction may include, e.g., strength members 1150 withinthe drop cable.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations can besubstituted for the specific embodiments shown and described withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specificembodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that thisdisclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

We claim:
 1. A method of routing a fiber drop cable directly from aterminal that is external to a dwelling to a wall outlet internal to thedwelling, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a jacketedoptical fiber drop cable to the terminal, routing the jacketed opticalfiber drop cable along a portion of an exterior of the dwelling, routingthe jacketed optical fiber drop cable through an entrance point into thedwelling, removing the jacket from the jacketed optical fiber dropcable, exposing an optical fiber surrounded with an adhesive layer,adhering the optical fiber to an interior surface of the dwellingutilizing the adhesive layer, and connecting the optical fiber to thewall outlet.
 2. A telecommunications system, comprising: a terminal,exterior to a dwelling; a continuous fiber drop cable routed from theterminal, the fiber drop cable being jacketed and weatherproofed, andbeing routed to an entrance point of a dwelling through which the fiberdrop cable passes into the interior of the dwelling; an unjacketedportion of the fiber drop cable routed along an interior surface of thedwelling to a wall outlet, the unjacketed portion being inserted into atrack that is adhered to the interior wall of the dwelling and routed tothe wall outlet, the track comprising features positioned along thelength of the track that act to define a channel for securing andprotecting the unjacketed portion of the fiber drop cable.
 3. Thetelecommunications system of claim 2, wherein the features areintermittently spaced and positioned on opposing sides of the channel.4. The telecommunications system of claim 3, wherein the featurescomprise post-like features.
 5. The telecommunications system of claim2, wherein the post-like features comprise a widened cap at the top ofthe features that aids in securing and protecting the unjacketed fiberdrop cable in the channel.
 6. The telecommunications system of claim 2,wherein the track and features comprises a flexible clear or translucentmaterial.
 7. The telecommunications system of claim 2, wherein theunjacketed fiber drop cable comprises clear or translucent bufferedfiber.
 8. The telecommunications system of claim 2, wherein the trackand features comprise a flexible material that is color-matched to themounting surface of the interior dwelling.
 9. The telecommunicationssystem of claim 2, further comprising a cover portion positioned overthe channel that provides additional protection to the unjacketedportion of the fiber drop cable.